2013 New Jersey gubernatorial election

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The 2013 New Jersey gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2013, to elect the governor of New Jersey. Incumbent Republican Governor Chris Christie ran for election to a second term in office.[2] He faced Democratic nominee Barbara Buono and six others in the general election.

Quick facts Turnout, Nominee ...
2013 New Jersey gubernatorial election
← 2009
November 5, 2013 (2013-11-05)
2017 →
Turnout39.6%[1] (Decrease7.3%)
 
Nominee Chris Christie Barbara Buono
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Kim Guadagno Milly Silva
Popular vote 1,278,932 809,978
Percentage 60.30% 38.19%
Christie:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Buono:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Governor before election

Chris Christie
Republican

 Elected Governor

Chris Christie
Republican

Close

Christie won re-election in a landslide, receiving over 60% of the vote and carrying 19 of the state's 21 counties, including 6 that he lost in 2009, with the only two counties voting for Buono being heavily Democratic Hudson and Essex.[3] This is the only statewide election held in New Jersey since the 1988 presidential election in which a Republican earned a majority of the vote.[a] Christie became the first Republican gubernatorial candidate to win a majority of the vote since Thomas Kean's landslide victory in 1985.

Christie won 21% of Black voters, 51% of Latinos, and was sworn in for his second term on January 21, 2014. As of 2025, this is the last time Republicans won any statewide election in New Jersey. This is also the last time the counties of Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Middlesex, Mercer, and Union voted for the Republican candidate in a statewide election, as well as the last time that Somerset and Passaic did so in a gubernatorial election.

Christie was criticized for spending an additional $12–25 million of state money to hold a special election for United States Senator for New Jersey 20 days earlier on October 16 instead of simply holding the special election on November 5, concurrent with the already scheduled gubernatorial election. The Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate was Newark mayor Cory Booker. Buono said it was hypocritical, speculating that Booker's presence on the ballot would attract more black and other minority voters who would be likely to vote for Buono.[4]

This is the only gubernatorial election since 1989 in which anyone won over 60% of the vote, and Christie was the first Republican to do so since 1985. Cumberland, Camden, and Union counties voted Republican in a gubernatorial election for the first time since 1985, and Mercer & Passaic since 1993. Buono is the only Democratic nominee for governor since 1985 to never be elected governor and remains the last to receive under a million votes. Despite Christie’s landslide victory in this election, Democrats concurrently retained their majorities in both state legislative chambers.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

Results by county
  Christie—80–90%
  Christie—>90%
More information Party, Candidate ...
2013 Republican primary — New Jersey gubernatorial election[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chris Christie (incumbent) 205,666 91.91%
Republican Seth Grossman 18,095 8.09%
Total votes 233,761 100.00%
Close

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Removed from primary ballot

Araujo, Bergmanson, Boss, and Webster had their nominating petitions challenged by the New Jersey Democratic State Committee; only Webster's petitions were found to be valid therefore allowing his name to remain on the primary ballot with Buono.[12] Araujo and Boss subsequently filed new petitions to run in the general election as independents.[13]

Declined

Polling

Hypothetical polling
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Cory
Booker		 Barbara
Buono		 Richard
Codey		 Louis
Greenwald		 Steve
Sweeney		 John
Wisniewski		 Other Undecided
Quinnipiac[23] January 15–21, 2013 616 ± 4% — 10% 28% — 10% — 5% 48%
Public Policy Polling[24] November 26–28, 2012 300 ± 5.66% 46% 7% 23% — 6% — 7% 10%
Quinnipiac[25] November 19–25, 2012 n/a ± n/a% 41% 4% 12% 1% — 1% 2% 39%
Close

Results

Results by county
  Buono—>90%
  Buono—80–90%
  Buono—70–80%
More information Party, Candidate ...
2013 Democratic primary — New Jersey gubernatorial election[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Barbara Buono 173,714 88.10%
Democratic Troy Webster 23,457 11.90%
Total votes 195,171 100.00%
Close

General election

Major party candidates

  • Barbara Buono (Democratic), former majority leader of the New Jersey Senate

Minor candidates

Endorsements

Chris Christie (R)

Organizations

  • Eastcoast Korean Real Estate Association[27]
  • Essex County Association of Chiefs of Police[28]
  • Essex County Latino-American Chamber of Commerce[29]
  • Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce Foundation of Essex County[29]
  • Hudson County Taekwondo Association[27]
  • Korean American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey[27]
  • Korean American Grocery Association[27]
  • Korean Marine Corps Veterans Association of New Jersey[27]
  • Korean Real Estate Association of NJ[27]
  • Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA)[30]
  • Lakewood Vaad[31]
  • Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey[32]
  • National Coalition of Latino Officers[33]
  • National Federation of Independent Business[34]
  • New Jersey Career Fire Chiefs' Association[35]
  • New Jersey Central Korean American Association[27]
  • New Jersey First Aid Council[36]
  • New Jersey Food Council[37]
  • New Jersey Korean American Beauty Salon Association[27]
  • New Jersey Korean American Dry Cleaning Association[27]
  • New Jersey Korean American Nail Association[27]
  • New Jersey Outdoor Alliance[38]
  • New Jersey Taekwondo Association[27]
  • Overseas Korean Traders Association of New Jersey[27]
  • Penel Concert Choir[27]
  • Port Authority Lieutenants Benevolent Association[39]
  • Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Benevolent Association[40]
  • Port Authority Police Detectives Endowment Association[39]
  • Port Authority Police Sergeants Benevolent Association[39]
  • Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce[29]
  • Waterfront Commission Police Detectives Endowment Association[39]

Elected officials

Newspapers

Religious groups

  • Igud of Lakewood[63]
  • Korean Pastors Association[27]

Religious leaders

  • Reverend Julio Barriento[64]
  • Reverend Najiyyah Brooks[65]
  • Pastor Jeffrey Bryan[65]
  • Pastor Joe Carter[65]
  • Reverend Renato Castro[64]
  • Reverend Dr. Hector A. Chiesa[64]
  • Pastor Ron Christian[65]
  • Minister Tami Christian[65]
  • Pastor William Christian[65]
  • Reverend Alfred Fletcher[65]
  • Reverend Jesus Infante[64]
  • Bishop Reginald Jackson, Executive Director of the Black Ministers' Council[66]
  • Michele Levine, president, Bayonne Jewish Community Center[67]
  • Reverend Jose C. Lopez[64]
  • Reverend Rafael Mesa[64]
  • Reverend Raul Otero[64]
  • Reverend David Torres Oyola[64]
  • Bishop Parrott Sr.[65]
  • Pastor John Perry[65]
  • Reverend Tomas Reyes[64]
  • Reverend Miguel Rivera[64]
  • Bishop Dr. Thomas Robinson[67]
  • Reverend Bob Rodriguez[64]
  • Reverend David Rojas[64]
  • Pastor Jerry Smith[65]
  • Pastor Ralph Terrell[65]
  • Reverend Ariel Torres[64]
  • Pastor R. Trabout[65]

Others

Barbara Buono (D)

Organizations

Elected officials

Others

Debates

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
Rothenberg Political Report[109] Safe R October 25, 2013
Sabato[110] Safe R October 24, 2013
Close

Polling

%SupportDate01020304050607010/14/20125/2/20139/19/201311/2/2013ChristieBuonoOther/UndecidedOpinion polling for the 2013 New Jersey gube...
View source data.
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Chris
Christie (R)		 Barbara
Buono (D)		 Other Undecided
Quinnipiac[111] October 30–November 3, 2013 1,388 ± 2.6% 61% 33% 1% 6%
Monmouth[112] October 30–November 2, 2013 1,436 ± 2.6% 57% 37% 2% 4%
Rutgers-Eagleton[113] October 28–November 2, 2013 535 ± 4.2% 66% 30% — 4%
Fairleigh Dickinson University[114] October 24–30, 2013 570 ± 4.1% 59% 40% 1% —
Kean University[115] October 28, 2013 ? ± 3% 54% 36% — 10%
Stockton Polling Institute[116] October 23–28, 2013 804 ± 3.5% 56% 32% 4% 8%
Quinnipiac[117] October 21–27, 2013 1,203 ± 2.8% 64% 31% 1% 5%
Quinnipiac[118] October 10–14, 2013 1,938 ± 2.2% 62% 33% — 5%
Rutgers-Eagleton[119] October 7–13, 2013 562 ± 4.1% 59% 33% — 8%
Monmouth[120] October 10–12, 2013 1,606 ± 2.5% 59% 35% 2% 4%
Stockton Polling Institute[121] October 3–8, 2013 800 ± 3.5% 61% 28% — 11%
Rasmussen[122] October 7, 2013 1,000 ± 3% 55% 34% 4% 7%
Quinnipiac[123] October 5–7, 2013 1,144 ± 2.9% 62% 33% 1% 4%
Fairleigh Dickinson University[124] September 30–October 5, 2013 702 ± 3.7% 58% 25% 2% 15%
Monmouth[125] September 26–29, 2013 615 ± 4% 56% 37% — 7%
Quinnipiac[126] September 19–22, 2013 1,249 ± 2.8% 64% 30% 1% 5%
Pulse Opinion Research[127] September 19, 2013 1,000 ± ? 52% 34% 6% 8%
Stockton Polling Institute[128] September 15–21, 2013 812 ± 3.4% 58% 30% 1% 10%
Rasmussen[122] September 10–11, 2013 999 ± 3% 58% 32% 2% 8%
Rutgers-Eagleton[129] September 3–9, 2013 568 ± 4.1% 55% 35% 1% 8%
Fairleigh Dickinson University[130] August 21–27, 2013 700 ± 3.7% 50% 26% 6% 19%
Monmouth[131] August 15–18, 2013 777 ± 3.5% 56% 36% 3% 6%
Quinnipiac[132] August 1–5, 2013 2,042 ± 2.2% 58% 30% 1% 11%
Quinnipiac[133] July 2–7, 2013 1,068 ± 3% 61% 29% 1% 9%
Pulse Opinion Research[134] June 18, 2013 1,000 ± 3% 58% 28% 6% 8%
Fairleigh Dickinson University[135] June 10–16, 2013 705 ± 3.7% 57% 27% 2% 13%
Rasmussen[122] June 12–13, 2013 1,000 ± 3% 58% 28% 4% 10%
Stockton Polling Institute[136] June 8–13, 2013 741 ± 3.6% 64% 25% 2% 10%
Monmouth[137] June 10–11, 2013 626 ± 3.9% 61% 31% 4% 4%
Quinnipiac[138] June 7–9, 2013 858 ± 3.4% 59% 29% 1% 10%
Rutgers-Eagleton[139] June 3–9, 2013 763 ± 3.6% 59% 27% 2% 12%
NBC News/Marist[140] April 28–May 2, 2013 1,080 ± 3% 60% 28% 1% 10%
Quinnipiac[141] April 19–22, 2013 1,112 ± 2.9% 58% 26% 1% 14%
Rutgers-Eagleton[142] April 3–7, 2013 819 ± 3.7% 57% 27% — 16%
Harper Polling[143] March 24–25, 2013 760 ± 3.55% 58% 27% — 15%
Quinnipiac[144] March 19–24, 2013 1,129 ± 2.9% 60% 25% 1% 14%
Fairleigh Dickinson University[145] March 4–10, 2013 702 ± 3.7% 58% 22% — 20%
Quinnipiac[146] February 13–17, 2013 1,149 ± 2.9% 62% 25% 1% 13%
Monmouth[147] February 6–10, 2013 803 ± 3.5% 62% 20% 6% 12%
Rutgers-Eagleton[148] January 30–February 3, 2013 698 ± 3.7% 63% 21% — 16%
Quinnipiac[23] January 15–21, 2013 1,647 ± 2.4% 63% 22% — 14%
Pulse Opinion Research[149] January 6, 2013 1,000 ± 3% 55% 22% 5% 18%
Fairleigh Dickinson University[150] January 2–6, 2013 700 ± 3.7% 64% 21% 1% 14%
Public Policy Polling[24] November 26–28, 2012 600 ± 4% 60% 20% — 21%
Quinnipiac[25] November 19–25, 2012 1,664 ± 2.4% 61% 23% 1% 15%
Rutgers-Eagleton[151] November 14–17, 2012 1,097 ± 2.9% 60% 22% 2% 15%
Quinnipiac[152] October 10–14, 2012 1,405 ± 2.6% 49% 33% — 18%
Close
Hypothetical polling

with Booker

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Chris
Christie (R)		 Cory
Booker (D)		 Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling[24] November 26–28, 2012 600 ± 4% 50% 36% — 14%
Quinnipiac[25] November 19–25, 2012 1,664 ± 2.4% 53% 35% 1% 11%
Rutgers-Eagleton[151] November 14–17, 2012 1,103 ± 2.9% 53% 34% 2% 11%
Quinnipiac[152] October 10–14, 2012 1,405 ± 2.6% 46% 42% — 12%
Quinnipiac[153] August 27–September 2, 2012 1,560 ± 2.5% 47% 40% — 11%
Public Policy Polling[154] July 15–18, 2011 480 ± 4.5% 43% 47% — 10%
Public Policy Polling[155] January 6–9, 2011 520 ± 4.3% 42% 42% — 16%
Close

with Byrne

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Chris
Christie (R)		 Tom
Byrne (D)		 Other Undecided
Rutgers-Eagleton[151] November 14–17, 2012 1,095 ± 2.9% 58% 22% 2% 18%
Close

with Codey

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Chris
Christie (R)		 Richard
Codey (D)		 Other Undecided
Quinnipiac[23] January 15–21, 2013 1,647 ± 2.4% 59% 30% — 11%
Pulse Opinion Research[149] January 6, 2013 1,000 ± 3% 53% 28% 5% 14%
Fairleigh Dickinson University[150] January 2–6, 2013 700 ± 3.7% 59% 26% 1% 14%
Public Policy Polling[24] November 26–28, 2012 600 ± 4% 53% 31% — 16%
Quinnipiac[25] November 19–25, 2012 1,664 ± 2.4% 57% 30% 1% 12%
Rutgers-Eagleton[151] November 14–17, 2012 1,099 ± 2.9% 56% 31% 2% 12%
Quinnipiac[152] October 10–14, 2012 1,405 ± 2.6% 47% 41% 1% 11%
Close

with Greenwald

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Chris
Christie (R)		 Lou
Greenwald (D)		 Other Undecided
Quinnipiac[25] November 19–25, 2012 1,664 ± 2.4% 62% 20% 1% 15%
Rutgers-Eagleton[151] November 14–17, 2012 1,098 ± 2.9% 60% 21% 2% 18%
Quinnipiac[152] October 10–14, 2012 1,405 ± 2.6% 50% 31% — 18%
Close

with Pallone

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Chris
Christie (R)		 Frank
Pallone (D)		 Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling[154] July 15–18, 2011 480 ± 4.5% 43% 43% — 14%
Close

with Springsteen

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Chris
Christie (R)		 Bruce
Springsteen (D)		 Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling[24] November 26–28, 2012 600 ± 4% 61% 25% — 14%
Public Policy Polling[154] July 15–18, 2011 480 ± 4.5% 42% 42% — 15%
Close

with Sweeney

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Chris
Christie (R)		 Stephen
Sweeney (D)		 Other Undecided
Quinnipiac[23] January 15–21, 2013 1,647 ± 2.4% 61% 25% 1% 13%
Pulse Opinion Research[149] January 6, 2013 1,000 ± 3% 58% 19% 7% 16%
Fairleigh Dickinson University[150] January 2–6, 2013 700 ± 3.7% 65% 19% 1% 15%
Public Policy Polling[24] November 26–28, 2012 600 ± 4% 57% 20% — 23%
Public Policy Polling[154] July 15–18, 2011 480 ± 4.5% 42% 40% — 18%
Close

with Wisniewski

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Chris
Christie (R)		 John
Wisniewski (D)		 Other Undecided
Quinnipiac[25] November 19–25, 2012 1,664 ± 2.4% 62% 21% 1% 15%
Close

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
2013 New Jersey gubernatorial election[156]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Chris Christie (incumbent) 1,278,932 60.30% Increase11.84
Democratic Barbara Buono 809,978 38.19% Decrease 6.69
Libertarian Kenneth R. Kaplan 12,155 0.57% Increase 0.37
Green Steve Welzer 8,295 0.39% N/A
Independent Diane W. Sare 3,360 0.16% N/A
Peace and Freedom William Araujo 3,300 0.16% N/A
Independent Hank Schroeder 2,784 0.13% N/A
Independent Jeff Boss 2,062 0.10% N/A
Total votes 2,120,866 100.00% N/A
Republican hold
Close

By county

More information County, Christie % ...
County Christie % Christie votes Buono % Buono votes Other % Other votes
Atlantic 62.2%43,97536.1%25,5571.6%1,166
Bergen 60.2%136,17838.6%87,3761.1%2,515
Burlington 62.3%79,22036.3%46,1611.3%1,698
Camden 54.8%64,54543.7%51,5461.5%1,786
Cape May 71.6%23,53126.7%8,7981.6%519
Cumberland 56.7%17,94341.4%13,1291.9%595
Essex 37.0%57,35361.8%95,7471.1%1,705
Gloucester 64.1%50,64034.2%27,0601.6%1,285
Hudson 43.6%42,56754.7%53,3861.7%1,632
Hunterdon 73.5%31,29224.4%10,4252.0%842
Mercer 51.9%48,53046.3%43,2821.7%1,621
Middlesex 58.3%101,61940.2%70,2251.4%2,468
Monmouth 70.7%123,41727.7%48,4771.6%2,753
Morris 70.1%98,88828.2%39,8241.7%2,382
Ocean 75.8%125,78122.8%37,9301.4%2,311
Passaic 52.9%53,85845.9%46,8251.1%1,140
Salem 66.6%12,74830.7%5,8892.6%495
Somerset 67.6%58,98130.8%26,9131.6%1,419
Sussex 71.1%29,87325.4%10,7043.4%1,419
Union 51.2%58,13547.4%53,8691.4%1,560
Warren 72.6%19,85825.0%6,8552.4%645
Close

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Swing in each New Jersey county from the 2009-2013 governor elections
Trend in each New Jersey county from the 2009-2013 governor elections

By congressional district

Christe won ten of 12 congressional districts, including four that elected Democrats, although he won the 9th district by a very narrow margin.[157]

More information District, Christie ...
District Christie Buono Representative
1st 57.23% 41.23% Rob Andrews
2nd 65% 33.2% Frank LoBiondo
3rd 67.9% 30.73% Jon Runyan
4th 68.94% 29.57% Chris Smith
5th 65.2% 33.27% Scott Garrett
6th 59.84% 38.63% Frank Pallone Jr.
7th 69.61% 28.64% Leonard Lance
8th 43.4% 54.97% Albio Sires
9th 49.51% 49.28% Bill Pascrell
10th 26.64% 72.23% Donald Payne Jr.
11th 66.21% 32.32% Rodney Frelinghuysen
12th 57.07% 41.42% Rush Holt Jr.
Close

See also

References

External links

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